The Land of a Million Elephants, as Laos was once known, is opening up to tourists after years of war and isolation. Consequently, a visit to Laos is like stepping back in time and the citizens have retained innocence and charm that is as rare as it is valuable. The mountains and rivers are pristine in this land-locked country, squeezed between China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Ride and scenery were great, staff was exceptional. We really did like the trip.
Southern Laos was poor, friendly, charming an safe. Excellent guide and driver, good cycling on tiny roads which would have been absolutely impossible without the guide.
DestinationsThailand, Laos
Tour MeetsUbon Ratchatani
Fly in toUbon Ratchathani International Airport (UBP)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
Our biking sojourn takes us through the Southern Lowlands from Pakse down to the Cambodian border before heading north and then east to the fertile lands of the coffee rich Bolaven Plateau. We cover up to 262 km in 6 cycling days, and much of the terrain is quite flat except for the days up on the plateau. There are some great natural attractions and the chance to spot the rare Irrawaddy dolphins makes this one tour that has absolutely something for everyone. Along the way, the scenery is constantly changing: we go from arid scrubland to jungle to lush green valleys. The views at some of the places we stay are absolutely amazing, and this, combined with the changing scenery, make this tour a feast for the eyes. Apart from cycling, we take time out to see 5th century temples of Wat Phu, some wonderful waterfalls, visit one of the best coffee growing areas in the world, and hopefully are lucky enough to sight the elusive Irrawaddy dolphins from one of the Mekong's 4,000 islands.
Suitability: This ride is a great one for novices and experts alike. Most of this ride is flat apart from the end of Day 5 and the start of Day 6, and it undulates on Day 8. The road surfaces are generally very good and so make for easier riding. Anyone who has moderate fitness will enjoy this tour. If you are in doubt, please contact us for advice or a list of references.
Biking Conditions: The road surfaces are mixed: most days we ride on reasonably good quality asphalt roads, but there are enough rides on very badly broken or dirt tracks to mean you will need a mountain bike, preferably one with front shocks. However, there is nothing technical involved on this tour, and anyone, assuming they are fit enough, will be able to join no matter how little cycling experience they have. A support truck is always available to help when required, except on Day 4 when we ride on the islands.
The start point of the tour is Ubon Ratchatani, and you can travel there by plane or train from Bangkok. We have one group transfer to our hotel on the banks of the Mekong River. Please inform us of your arrival time. We have our trip briefing and dinner in the early evening on the bank of the Mekong River.
Tohsang Khong Jiam
DinnerIt’s a short transfer to the Lao border at Chongmek, and once visa formalities have been completed, we drive about 1 hour to the start of our ride. We start cycling on a flat tarmac road, passing through the former colonial town of Champasak, which stretches along the Mekong River. We ride 8 km to Wat Phu, a Khmer Hindu temple complex dating back to the 5th century. Here, we have a picnic lunch and explore this fascinating place before we head back to Champasak and overnight at our riverside resort.
The Riviera ChampasakBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 48kmWe start the day with a short cycle to catch a ferry to Don Daeng Island, and we go for a short ride around the island. Then we take a ferry ride to the other side of the river and ride to the village of Ban Niet Ngong. Once we reach the village, we can opt to ride or walk up to see Phu Asa, a curious site of stone towers. We have lunch and then ride back down to the main junction before we load up the vans for a transfer to Ban Hat. Here, we cross back over to the Mekong to one of the biggest of the islands in this mighty river, Don Khong. Arriving in the late afternoon will give you time to walk along the river and watch as the locals make full use of the river.
Pon Arena HotelBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 44kmToday, we island hop! We have an early start and ride around Don Khong and along the river banks to the ferry, stopping to see locals making palm sugar. When we reach the ferry, it's only 200 m to the island of Don Som, one of the longest islands in the Mekong, stretching about 12 km to where it meets the tip of Don Det. It's another quick ferry ride to Don Det, and we cycle along a dirt path to an old French Railway bridge and cross over to Don Khone for hotel check in and lunch before continuing to a leisurely cruise in search of the nearly extinct Irrawaddy dolphins. We visit Leepi Falls and see the Mekong River channel on our way back to the hotel. A varied ride over four islands on narrow dirt tracks means there’ll be no vehicle support, but we will still stop for water and snack breaks.
Sengahloun HotelBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 45kmAfter breakfast, we ride a short distance to the ferry to cross the Mekong again. It's a short 12-km ride to Khan Phapeng Waterfalls. This natural phenomenon splits the Mekong. After you've taken your photos, we transfer for about 2 hours to begin our journey into the coffee growing area of Laos: the Bolaven Plateau. We stop for lunch at Tad Fane Waterfall. Then it's on the bikes to cycle to our coffee resort for an overnight. We start with a gentle uphill of 10 km to the town of Paksong. Then the road evens out before we roll down to the resort.
Sinouk Coffee ResortBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 40kmWe ride on to Tha Teng on a quiet road, passing villages and lots of cheering children. After lunch, we hit a very quiet road, watching out for piglets crossing, and stop at a Katou village to see how they roast coffee and learn why there are empty coffins under the houses. Then it’s an easy downhill. From the junction, it’s only 5 km to Tad Lo Waterfalls and our riverside over-night. The afternoon is free to take a dip in the waterfalls before we have an alfresco dining experience overlooking the falls to round off a great day.
Tad Lo LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 30kmAs we leave the Bolaven Plateau behind, we ride on an undulating road that has a few surprises – some lengthy but gradual climbs, one is 5 km, another 14 km. We ride 52 km to Tad Pha Suam, where we can see different styles of traditional Laotian homes and another amazing waterfall. We then transfer an hour to Pakse to take in this riverside town. We have our farewell dinner on the roof of the Pakse Hotel.
Arawan Riverside LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 55kmWe drive back to the border and cross into Thailand for a 11:00 am arrival in Ubon Ratchatani, in time to catch afternoon flights.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.
If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
Please see the visa options for our Laos tours below:
“Hidden Tribes and Trails of Laos”: You can apply for an e-visa in advance, or obtain a visa on arrival at the Luang Prabang airport.
When applying for a visa on arrival, be sure to have cash in the amount of USD $50 per person or equivalent in THB, LAK, or EUR, in clean, pristine bills.
“Southern Laos by Bicycle” and "Remote Vietnam and Laos": Visas on arrival are obtained at the Laos border on Day 2 of the tour. E-visas are not available for this crossing.
When applying for a visa on arrival, be sure to have cash in the amount of USD $50 per person or equivalent in THB, LAK, or EUR, in clean, pristine bills.
“Cycling Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang”: Visas on arrival are obtained at the Laos border on Day 6 of the tour. You can also apply for an e-visa in advance.
When applying for a visa on arrival, be sure to have cash in the amount of USD $50 per person or equivalent in THB, LAK, or EUR, in clean, pristine bills.
“Biking Hanoi to Luang Prabang” and "Remote Vietnam and Laos": Visas on arrival and e-visas are not accepted for these border crossings (Pang Hok-Sop Hun and Nam Soy).
We would like to summarize your options to obtain your visa in advance:
1 - The most straightforward way is to get the visa from a Laos embassy or consulate near you. Please contact them directly. Please do this as soon as possible, as processing time can vary.
2 - We know that Laos embassies/consulates may not be within a reasonable distance of where you live. If that is the case, you may consider using a reliable Travel Visa agency such as CIBT who will take care of the process for you. Please do this as soon as possible, as processing time can vary.
3 - We can help to obtain your visa at the Laos embassy in Hanoi. This would require you to be in Hanoi before the beginning of the tour, and it cannot fall on weekend or national holiday. You need to submit the visa before 09:00 AM and will receive it in your passport in the afternoon of the same day. You need to prepare a passport-sized photo and your passport. The cost for this service is 45 USD/per person including the visa fee and transportation to the embassy. This needs to be paid in cash and in USD.
Further visa information:
The full list of entry points indicating where e-visas and/or visas on arrival are and are not accepted. https://immigration.gov.la/checkpoints/
The list of countries with visa exemptions for Laos (please see the column on the right-hand side, “Ordinary Passport”, for the visa exemption period): https://immigration.gov.la/visa-exemption/
We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.
Laos has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27C and 40C (80-104F), with night temperatures in the 20C/75F). The rainy season is from June to October. The cooler season, is from November to February, with average temperatures between 20C and 30C (70- 86F). It can get a little cold at night at higher elevations year round so bring a light fleece for the evenings.
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D =dinner. Most meals are local Laos food and feature noodles, curries and soups. Lao cuisine is very similar to Thai food and we make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere, but is NOT included in the price.
SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$10, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive. As a general guide we suggest US$3-4 per person per day is appropriate.
The official national currency in Laos is the kip, however, Thai baht and US dollars are also used, especially in larger cities and towns. In smaller towns and villages, kip is usually preferred. There are now a few ATMs in Laos, but they are not widespread and are operational only sporadically. The best overall exchange rates are those offered at the BCEL (Banque pour le Commerce Extérieur Lao). Licensed moneychangers rates are similar to banks Spend all your kip before you leave as no one will exchange it for you once you leave the country!
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.
You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.
From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).
If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.
We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.
The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.
In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.
In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.
The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.
If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).
If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).
Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.
If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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I like the mixture of exercise and sightseeing.